One Last Time
Disclaimer: Although Alexander the Great and Hephaestion/Hephaistion were real people, I am using the characters from Oliver Stone's 2004 movie 'Alexander'. I do not own these characters. Set before the battle in India.
It was night time in the Eastern regions of the Macedonian empire and soft moonlight fell over the army's campsite.
Hephaestion entered the king's tent cautiously, constantly sweeping his clear blue eyes across the space to check whether anyone was near. His heart pounded; he was anxious and worried whether Queen Roxane would find out about him tiptoeing around her husband's living area. He could never stand that woman, always spying into his friendship with the king like a hawk eyeing up their prey. However, he had to appear to like her, for the sake of the king.
After he'd checked that the coast was clear, Hephaestion went to pull back the flap of fabric until he realised that it was already open. It was then that he noticed that the king wasn't there. His heart leapt up into his throat as he started to panic. The leader of the Macedonian empire can't have merely gone.
Adrenaline flared through him as he rushed out of the tent, heading into the leafy Indian foliage. "Please don't be dead. Please." he thought frantically "You have enemies out here… those Indian barbarians aren't going to leave you to live. You're the one who is supposed to lead us to victory not into the enemy's open jaws." He fought back the unfamiliar plants with his shoulders; his hand on his sword ready to attack.
He realised that he had no idea where he was going and he didn't care. He had to find the king.
Eventually he stumbled into an open clearing flooded with moonlight, and on the other end was a familiar blonde-haired figure gazing up at the moon. A tear built up in Hephaestion's eye as he breathed a sigh of relief. "You're safe" he thought thankfully "Alexander."
Hephaestion watched him for a while, noticing how the light of the moon gleamed on his blonde locks. Once cropped, they now flowed loosely down his shoulders, which had become more defined and muscular through years of battle. "He reaches too high, pushes too far. It's enough to make a man insane" contemplated Hephaestion "As Aristotle used to say: Excess in all things is the undoing of men."
Alexander was his best friend from childhood. It hurt to see him broken and Hephaestion could hear gentle sobs from the other end of the clearing. His chest felt close to bursting with pure love and it was all he could do not to run over to him. He slowly stepped forward, careful not to make a noise with the foliage underfoot and startle the king.
Alexander started to mutter, still staring up at the silvery orb in the night sky: "Oh Gods, I don't know what to do. Those closest to me are turning their backs to me and I cannot capture India without them. My men are mutinous and ready to strike. I need guidance. I need you to please help me."
Hephaestion put his weight on his front foot, his hand outstretched to reach out to Alexander. Suddenly, a twig under his sandal cracked.
"Hephaestion" said Alexander, without turning around "I sensed you were here. Come here my friend." Hephaestion obeyed his king and looked him in the eyes, which glistened with fresh tears, their tracks evident on his face. His expression had become hardened through war, although when he looked at his childhood friend, it was as if they were young boys again, before all the torment and hurt.
"I need you" whispered Alexander, his voice shaky. Hephaestion embraced the king, pulling him closer and wishing his pain away. The only thing he wanted was to hold Alexander until his tears dried up and he would forget the betrayal and grief. They'd lost too many people in the quest for an empire; both to death and hatred. The soldier held his king as if he was comforting a vulnerable child, desperately trying to eradicate his fear and sorrow.
A fresh wave of tears formed in Alexander's eyes as he squeezed Hephaestion tightly. He pulled back slightly and gazed into Hephaestion's blue eyes and said: "I-if I don't s-survive this battle… I-if I don't conquer India… I want you to stay with me tonight, one last time."
"Alexander" replied Hephaestion softly "I'll stay with you for eternity."